Video Poker Strategy: Read the Pay Table, Beat the Machine
Video poker is the rare casino game where the machine tells you exactly how beatable it is — if you know how to read it. Two machines can look identical and play identically, yet one returns 99.5% and the other 97%. The whole skill is spotting the difference and playing the right strategy. This guide shows you how.
Video Poker at a Glance
| Objective | Make the best five-card poker hand after one draw |
| Best version | 9/6 Jacks or Better — 99.54% with perfect play |
| Return range | ~95% to over 100% depending on the pay table |
| Golden rule | Always bet max coins (5) for the full royal flush bonus |
How to Play
You’re dealt five cards. You choose which to keep and which to discard, then draw replacements once. Your final hand is paid according to the machine’s pay table. There’s no dealer and no other players — it’s just you against a fixed pay schedule, which is precisely why the math is so clean and so learnable.
Why the Pay Table Is Everything
Video poker games are named after two numbers: the full-house and flush payouts. “9/6” Jacks or Better pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush, and returns 99.54%. Drop those to “8/5” and the same-looking game returns just 97.30% — that’s more than double the house edge for an identical-feeling machine. Casinos count on players not noticing. Use the tool below to check any machine before you sit down.
Pay-Table Reader & Return Calculator
Pick a common machine to see its true return, or switch to “Enter a pay table” and type in the numbers on the machine in front of you. The tool estimates the return and shows you the optimal way to play. Jacks of Better, Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus and Deuces Wild are the ones we cover for now.
The Strategy in Plain Terms
Optimal play is a ranked list: look at your dealt hand, find the highest line that applies, and hold those cards. A few principles cover most situations:
- Never break a made straight, flush, or better — except to draw to a royal flush.
- A high pair beats a four-card flush or straight draw — keep the sure payout.
- Keep a low pair over a single high card.
- Never hold a kicker with a pair — discard the odd card and draw three.
- Don’t draw to an inside straight unless it has three or more high cards.
Popular Variations
- Bonus Poker — pays more for four-of-a-kinds, with slightly reduced base payouts. Best full-pay version (8/5) returns about 99.17%.
- Double Double Bonus — big four-of-a-kind premiums (especially aces) but higher variance and a different strategy.
- Deuces Wild — all 2s are wild. Full-pay versions can return over 100% with perfect play, but full-pay tables are increasingly rare.
Tips That Actually Help
- Always bet five coins. A short bet shrinks the royal-flush payout and raises the house edge.
- Compare pay tables before you sit — the differences are right there on the glass.
- Join the players club. Video poker comps are based on coin-in, which is high, so the rewards add real value back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best video poker game?
For most players, 9/6 Jacks or Better — it returns 99.54% with perfect play, the strategy is learnable, and the variance is moderate.
Why must I always bet five coins?
The royal flush pays 800 per coin only on a five-coin bet; on smaller bets it pays just 250 per coin. That bonus is a meaningful chunk of the game’s return, so a short bet leaves money on the table.
Can video poker really return over 100%?
A few full-pay machines (like full-pay Deuces Wild) exceed 100% with flawless play, but those tables are rare and demand perfect strategy over enormous volume to realize the edge.
Play responsibly. Gambling should be entertainment, not income. If it stops being fun, set limits or take a break — in the US, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential support.